30 years of the Swissalpine Marathon Davos – more than a race

For the expected approximately 5000 runners from about 60 countries, no less than eleven main categories await them. For adults, the distances of these classifications range from ten to 76 kilometres. Another participation possibility includes categories for hikers. With the exception of the K30 – the Finish of which takes place in Filisur – all the routes conclude in Davos. Apart from the K42 (Start in Bergün), and the K21 and W21 (both beginning in Klosters), all categories take off from Europe’s highest-lying town. The supreme discipline K78 remains unchanged. The route of the 30th event of the world’s greatest mountain-ultramarathon is now able to be experienced as a team.  Four people, of whom at least one must be a woman, share this relay event in pre-determined segments.

«The new star in the marathon sky»
Describing the K42, the president of the organisation committee, Andrea Tuffli, has this to say: «Jewel and granite simultaneously – indeed, the most demanding of the mountain races of the Alps». This time, the K42 is up against serious competition with the introduction of the 42-km long S42. The chief organiser talks about the S42 as being «the new star in the marathon sky; it is the highest mountain-marathon of Europe, leading through both the Dischma and Sertig Valleys, and over the Passes Scaletta and Sertig». Andrea Tuffli, initiator and organiser since the first event in 1986, has orchestrated a team of some 1100 helpers.

Jubilee’s mountain prize
Known as the «Mountain prize by Perskindol Warm-Up Crackling Spray», the event’s sponsor, Perskindol, is for the first time offering an exclusive mountain prize to participants of the K78 and K42 events, to commemorate the jubilee. Decisive in determining the title of Mountain King/Queen is the time taken from Bergün upwards towards the Keschhütte. After the Sertig Pass, lying at 2739 metres asl, the Keschhütte, situated at 2632 metres asl, is the second-highest point on the route.

Seminars, Lectures, Kids and Food Village
About from the sporting side, the Swissalpine in Davos also presents a host of attractive offers. These begin already in the week prior to the event with the diverse components of the Highseven, the name ascribed to the peripheral programmes pertaining to matters of sport, culture and health. Two of the highlights are the seminars to be conducted by Dr Christian Larsen, designated «Sprialdynamik® – the Power Rules of the Human Body» and «Overcoming Limits – Mental Power and the Body in Tune» (both in German). In addition, the renowned cliff climber, Nina Caprez, will be giving a speech on the subject «About a Different Life» (in German).

On the day of the event there will not only be adult running fanatics, but also many curious and interested children, ranging in age from four to twelve years. From 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., the free-of-charge Kids Village will be found at the Start/Finish arena in Davos, offering cool and enjoyable sport games, a bouncy castle, and much more. Near this hive of youthful activity and the emotionally laden Start and Finish line, the Swissalpine is now additionally offering the new Food Village, complete with a wide range of delicious refreshments.

Run for Children in Africa
No matter whether a top performance athlete or simply a pure lover of running, all participants have the opportunity of taking part on a donation campaign of the Swiss Development Organisation Helvetas.

By means of this special programme, runners will be invited and encouraged to convert their kilometres into «water for children in Africa». In the rural areas of Benin in West Africa, women and children trudge many kilometres from their homes in order to collect water, because they otherwise have no access to clean water. As a Charity Runner of Helvetas, Swissalpine athletes can now collect their «running money» for clean water in Benin. Using the link www.life-changer.ch everyone can initiate his/her own collection to help improve the lives of these people. On this website, Charity Runners are able to not only input information about the project, but can also publicise personal messages to give the campaign a familial touch.

Those opening such an activity on www.swissalpine.ch/helvetas may call themselves Helvetas Charity Runner, and will be rewarded with a special and attractive package of gratitude in the form of an exclusive runner’s shirt with name, a voucher for the Davos Klosters cable car, and a coupon for «2 for 1» at Alpamare.